Protection device for vehicle

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a protection device for a vehicle intended for military application comprising a wall configuration with ballistic protection properties arranged to constitute a delimitation of a protection zone of the vehicle, wherein said wall configuration is movably arranged in the vehicle for adaptation according to needs of the configuration of said protection zone. The invention also relates to a vehicle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a protection device for a vehicle intended formilitary application according to the preamble of claim 1. The inventionalso relates to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

The threat levels for personnel in vehicles intended for militarypurposes such as combat vehicles and terrain vehicles have increasedcontinuously. Hereby more protection is required on the vehicle whichresults in increased weight of the vehicle.

DE102008052231 shows a military vehicle with a ballistic protection wallarranged in the vehicle to delimit a protection zone for personneltravelling in the vehicle.

GB2341918 shows a military vehicle with ballistic protection wallarranged to delimit protection zones in the vehicle.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a protection device forvehicle facilitating optimized protection without the vehicle becomingunnecessary heavy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects, apparent from the following description, areachieved by a protection device for vehicle, and vehicle, which are ofthe type stated by way of introduction and which in addition exhibitsthe features recited in the characterising clause of the appendedindependent claims 1 and 12. Preferred embodiments of the protectiondevice are defined in appended dependent claims 2-11.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a protectiondevice for a vehicle intended for military application comprising a wallconfiguration with ballistic protection properties arranged toconstitute a delimitation of a protection zone of the vehicle, whereinsaid wall configuration is movably arranged in the vehicle foradaptation according to needs of the configuration of said protectionzone. Hereby provision of flexible protection zones is facilitated suchthat the protection zone may be reduced e.g. when fewer persons aretravelling therein wherein the weight of the vehicle may be reducedwhich results in that the vehicle may be more efficiently manoeuvrable.

According to an embodiment of the protection device said protection zoneis intended for objects particularly worth protecting, for exampleoperator and/or passenger.

According to an embodiment of the protection device said wallconfiguration comprises at least one movable wall element. Hereby easyadaptation of the protection zone is facilitated.

According to an embodiment of the protection device said wall element isarranged to run essentially transverse to the longitudinal direction ofthe vehicle. Hereby easy adaptation of the protection zone isfacilitated.

According to an embodiment of the protection device said wallconfiguration comprises protection material adapted to presentprotection level of said protection zone. Hereby flexibility increasesfurther wherein the protection zone may be adapted for presentprotection needs, wherein the weight of the vehicle may be optimized forthe protection need.

According to an embodiment of the protection device said wallconfiguration comprises removable additional protection elements. Herebyadaptation of the protection zone is facilitated and protection level ofthe protection zone as the protection elements with different protectionlevel may be utilized.

According to an embodiment of the protection device said additionalprotection elements comprise side, roof and/or bottom protectionelements. Hereby optimized protection of the protection zone isfacilitated such that protection against threat from both above,underneath and from the sides is obtained and may be adapted to theprotection need.

According to an embodiment of the protection device said wallconfiguration comprises said wall elements as well as said additionalprotection elements for delimitation of a predetermined protectionvolume of the protection zone.

According to an embodiment of the protection device said wallconfiguration comprises a movably arranged front and a rear wallelement. Hereby further optimization of protection zone/protection zonesis facilitated.

According to an embodiment of the protection device said wallconfiguration is modularly configured. Hereby adaptation of protectionzones for different needs is facilitated.

According to an embodiment the protection device further comprises meansfor fixation of said wall configuration. Hereby protection zone with astable structure is obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon thereference to the following detailed description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters referto like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle intended formilitary applications with a protection device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a schematically illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle bodywith a protection device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 b schematically illustrates the vehicle body in FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3 a schematically illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle bodywith a protection device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 b schematically illustrates the vehicle body in FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cross sectional view of a vehiclebody according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 a-d schematically show different view of wall elements of aprotection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle 1 according to embodimentsaccording to the present invention. The exemplified vehicle 1 isconstituted by a vehicle intended for military applications. The vehicle1 comprises a vehicle body 10. The exemplified vehicle 1 is according toan embodiment constituted by a motor vehicle. The exemplified vehicle isaccording to an embodiment constituted by a trailer. The exemplifiedvehicle 1 is according to an embodiment constituted by a heavy vehiclein the shape of a military vehicle. Said vehicle 1 is according to avariant a modularly built up vehicle. The vehicle 1 may be constitutedby a tracked vehicle and/or a wheeled vehicle. The vehicle 1 comprises aprotection device according to the present invention. The protectiondevice comprises a wall configuration 2 with ballistic protectionproperties arranged to constitute a delimitation of a protection zone ofthe vehicle 1. Said wall configuration 2 is movably arranged in thevehicle 1 for adaptation to needs of the configuration of saidprotection zone.

FIG. 2 a schematically illustrates a vehicle body 10 of a vehicleintended for military application with a protection device according toan embodiment of the present invention in an expanded position and FIG.2 b schematically illustrates the vehicle body 10 in FIG. 2 a with theprotection device in a compressed position.

The protection device comprises a wall configuration 20 movably arrangedin the vehicle between said expanded and compressed positions. The wallconfiguration 20 is arranged to constitute a delimitation of aprotection zone 30 of the vehicle.

According to an embodiment the vehicle body 10 has a protection zone 30with ballistic protection properties, the protection zone 30 havingside, roof and bottom protection elements 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d forminga protection volume. The protection zone 30 is expandable by means ofsaid movably arranged wall configuration 20 to an increased protectionzone 30′ in which the wall configuration 20 is arranged in the expandedposition. The protection zone 30, 30′ is configured to constituteprotection for personnel and/or other protection worthy components andsubsystems.

The vehicle body 10 further has a body portion 12 forming a volume. Saidbody portion 12 according to a variant has a basic protection level, thebody portion 12 according to a variant being provided with armourconstituting protection for basic armour level.

The wall configuration 20 comprises a movable wall element 40. Said wallelement 40 is intended to be arranged in the vehicle body 10 andarranged to run essentially transversal to the longitudinal direction ofthe vehicle and run essentially from floor to roof in the vehicle so asto divide a space in the vehicle.

The wall element 40 is movable in the vehicle body 10 in thelongitudinal direction for change of the configuration of saidprotection zone.

The wall element 40 has an inner side 40 a with a surface intended toface the protected volume and an outer side 40 b with a surface intendedto be turned away from the protected volume. The wall element 40 has aroof side 40 c arranged to run in connection to an upper area of thevehicle body 10 essentially transversal to the longitudinal direction ofthe vehicle, a bottom side 40 d arranged to run in connection to a lowerarea of the vehicle body 10 essentially transversal to the longitudinaldirection of the vehicle and sides 40 e, 40 f running along therespective vehicle side between said underside and upper side.

Said wall element 40 is intended to be arranged in the vehicle body 10,wherein the wall element 40 is movable between an expanded positionshown in FIG. 2 a in which said extended protection zone 30′ isobtained, and a compressed position shown in FIG. 2 b in which the wallelement 40 is moved from the expanded position in the direction of thearrow A such that a compressed protection zone 30 is obtained.

Said wall configuration 20 further comprises removable additionalprotection elements 22, 24, 26, 28. Said additional protection elementscomprise side protection elements 22, 24, roof protection elements 26and/or bottom protection elements 28.

Said wall configuration 20 comprises said wall element 40 as well assaid additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 for delimitation of apredetermined protection volume of the protection zone 30′.

Said additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 are intended to beplaced in connection to the wall element 40 in the expanded position soas to thus improve the protection of that protection zone 30′ of theincreased protection volume. Said additional protection elements 22, 24,26, 28 are intended to be arranged externally on the vehicle. Saidadditional protection elements according to a variant also compriseinternal protection portions.

Said side protection elements 22, 24 comprise a first side protectionelement 22 and a second side protection element 24, wherein the firstside protection element 22 is intended in the expanded position to beplaced along one of the side walls and the second side protectionelement 24 along the opposite one of the side walls of the vehicle body10 in connection to the wall element 40 arranged in the expandedposition.

Further said roof protection element 26 is in the expanded positionintended to be applied along the roof of the vehicle body 10 inconnection to the wall element 40 arranged in the expanded position.

Further said bottom protection element 28 is intended in the expandedposition to be applied along the bottom of the vehicle body 10 inconnection to the wall element 40 arranged in the expanded position.

Said additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 are intended to bearranged on the vehicle body 10 of the vehicle in dependence of presentprotection needs. Hereby said side protection elements 22, 24 and/orsaid roof protection element 26 and/or said bottom protection element 28by applied in the expanded position of the wall configuration 20. Herebythe weight of the vehicle may be optimized to required protection level.For example bottom protection elements 28 are not required when no riskfor mine/mine explosions exist, which reduces the vehicle weight.

Said additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 have according to anembodiment different lengths for provision of protection zones 30 withdifferent size of volume, i.e. different size of additional protectionelements are used for providing of different size of protection volume.Hereby adaptation of the protected volume is facilitated, wherein thewall configuration 20 may be arranged on one or several intermediatepositions between said compressed and expanded position, whereadditional protection elements adapted for the respective position isused.

Said wall configuration 20 comprises protection material adapted topresent protection level of said protection zone 30. Hereby said wallelement 40 comprises protection material adapted to present protectionlevel, e.g. adapted for ballistic protection such as adapted thicknessof armour. Further said additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28comprise protection material adapted to present protection level.

Said protection material according to an embodiment comprises materialwith secondary splinter reducing properties, wherein according to avariant the material of the structure of the wall element 40 hassecondary splinter reducing properties and/or the wall element 40comprises a so called spall liner.

According to a variant where the additional protection 22, 24, 26, 28apart from external protection portions also comprise internalprotection portions, the internal protection portions of said sideprotection elements 22, 24 and/or roof protection element 26 and/orbottom protection element 28 of said additional protection elements 22,24, 26, 28 comprise material with secondary splinter reducingproperties, wherein according to a variant the structure of the materialof said side protection elements and/or roof protection elements and/orbottom protection elements has secondary splinter reducing propertiesand/or said side protection elements and/or roof protection elementand/or bottom protection element comprise a so called spall liner.

According to a variant said wall element 40 is constituted by a sandwichstructure with a corresponding weight and protection function as a socalled spall liner. According to a variant where the additionalprotection 22, 24, 26, 28 apart from external protection portions alsocomprises internal protection portions the internal protection portionsof said side protection element 22, 24 and/or roof protection element 26and/or bottom protection element 28 of said additional protectionelement 22, 24, 26, 28 of a so called sandwich structure withcorresponding weight and protection function as a so called spall liner.

Said wall configuration 20 is exchangably arranged in the vehicle body10 of the vehicle. Consequently said wall element 40, side protectionelements 22, 24, roof protection element 26 and bottom protectionelement 28 are exchangeable. Hereby is according to an embodiment wallconfiguration 20 with protection material adapted for present protectionlevel arranged in connection to vehicle body 10 of the vehicle and isexchangeable to wall configuration 20 with protection material adaptedto other protection level when protection needs are changed.

Consequently the wall configuration 20 may comprise wall element 40 andadditional wall elements 22, 24, 26, 28 with protection material withenergy absorbing ability adapted to different protection levelsdepending on present protection need, where e.g. the bottom protectionelement 28 may have a higher or lower protection level than the wallelement 40 and/or roof protection element 26 and/or side protectionelements 22, 24.

FIG. 3 a schematically illustrates a vehicle body 10 according to anembodiment of the present invention illustrating a vehicle body 10 of avehicle intended for military application with a protection deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention in an expandedposition and FIG. 3 b schematically illustrates the vehicle body in FIG.3 a with the protection device in a compressed position.

The protection device in FIG. 3 a-b differs from the protection devicein FIG. 2 a-b mainly in that the wall configuration 120 comprises afront and a rear movable wall element 40, 140.

The wall configuration 120 is arranged to constitute a delimitation of aprotection zone 130 of the vehicle wherein the front wall element 40 andthe rear wall element 140 constitute opposing delimitations of saidprotection zone.

Said front and rear wall elements 40, 140 are intended to be arranged ata distance from each other in the vehicle body 10 and arranged to runessentially transversal to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle andrun essentially from roof to floor in the vehicle for dividing a spacein the vehicle.

Said front and rear wall elements 40, 140 are movably arranged in thevehicle body 10 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle for changeof the configuration of said protection zone.

The front wall element 40 is movably arranged between an expandedposition shown in FIG. 3 a in which an expanded protection zone 130′ isobtained, and a compressed position shown in FIG. 3 b in which the wallelement is moved from the expanded position in the direction of thearrow B such that a compressed protection zone 130 is obtained. In theexpanded position the front wall element 40 is connected to additionalprotection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 in the shape of said protectionelements 22, 24 and/or roof protection elements 26 and/or bottomprotection elements 28 in accordance with the embodiment described inFIG. 2 a-b.

Further the rear wall element 140 is movably arranged between anexpanded position shown in FIG. 3 a in which an expanded protection zone130′ is obtained, and a compressed position shown in FIG. 3 b in whichthe wall element is moved in the direction of the arrow C from theexpanded position such that a compressed protection zone 130 isobtained. In the expanded position the rear wall element 140 isconnected to additional protection elements 122, 124, 126, 128 in theshape of side protection elements 122, 124 and/or roof protectionelements 126 and/or bottom protection elements 128 in accordance withthe embodiment described in FIG. 2 a-b.

Said wall configuration 120 comprises said wall element 40 as well assaid additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28, 122, 124, 126, 128for delimitation of a predetermined protection volume of the protectionzone 130, 130′.

By having a front and a rear wall element 40, 140 movably arranged inthe vehicle body 10 the protection possibility and flexibility of theprotection is improved further. Hereby the front wall element 40 may bearranged in the expanded position or the compressed position orpositions there between, and at the same time the rear wall element 140may be arranged in the expanded position or the compressed position orpositions there between, additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28,122, 124, 126, 128 being applied in expanded position in dependence ofprotection needs.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cross sectional view of a vehiclebody 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle body 10 comprises portions 50 for movable cooperation withportions of the wall configuration 2 for facilitating of move of thewall configuration 2 in said vehicle body 10. Said portions 50 accordingto an embodiment comprise grooves arranged in connection to roof and/orbottom of the vehicle body 10, which groove portions are arranged toreceive portions such as wheel portions of the wall configurationarranged to run in said groove portion for provision of said movement ofthe wall configuration.

Said movable cooperation with portions of the wall configuration may beprovided by means of any suitable portions, groove portions according toa variant being arranged at the wall configuration to receive portionsof the vehicle body 10.

Portions of the vehicle body such as groove portions for movablecooperation with portions of the wall configuration may be arranged onside walls of the vehicle body. 10.

FIG. 5 a-d schematically illustrate different views of a wall element240 of the protection device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The wall element 240 has a protection portion with an inner side 240 awith a surface intended to face the protected volume and outer side 240b with a surface intended to be turned away from the protected volume.The wall element 240 has a roof side 240 c arranged to run in connectionto an upper area of the vehicle body essentially transversal to thelongitudinal direction of the vehicle, a bottom side 240 d arranged torun in connection to a lower area of the vehicle body essentiallytransversal to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and sides 240e, 240 f running along the respective vehicle side between said roofside and bottom side.

The wall element 240 comprises portions 244 for movable cooperation withportions 50 of the vehicle body for facilitating moving of the wallelement 240 in said vehicle body.

The wall element 240 further comprises an opening 248 closed with anopenable shutter 246 for facilitating of stowing and access of systemsand/or equipment in the vehicle. The shutter 246 is slidably arranged orturnably arranged. The shutter 246 is according to a variant removablyarranged.

The protection device according to the present invention furthercomprises means 60 for fixation of said wall configuration,schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. According to an embodiment saidmeans 60 for fixation of the wall configuration comprises locking meansfor lockably arranging the wall configuration in the compressed positionor expanded position or positions there between.

Said locking means according to this embodiment comprises portions forprovision of fastening and locking cooperation between wall elements ofthe wall configuration and vehicle body 10. Said locking portionsaccording to an embodiment comprises screw joints, clamp tie joints,snap joints or the corresponding.

Said ballistic protection zone according to the present inventionaccording to a variant forms a protection volume being protectedaccording to different levels of STANAG 4569 depending on protectionneeds.

The wall element according to embodiments of the present invention isaccording to a variant dividable for facilitating applying the same.

Above different embodiments of a protection device comprising a wallconfiguration being movably arranged in a vehicle between an expandedand compressed position for adaptation of needs of the configuration ofa protection zone, the protection zone in the compressed position havingan extension in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with side,roof and bottom protection elements with ballistic protection propertiesforming a protection volume.

According to a variant the wall configuration in the compressed positiononly forms a delimitation of one wall element, wherein a protectionvolume is formed in the expanded position.

Above a protection device with a wall configuration comprising twomovable wall elements arranged at a distance from each other, thesedelimiting a protection zone forming a protection volume. According toan alternative variant said wall elements, arranged at a distance fromeach other, form two protection volumes.

According to an additional variant the protection device comprises awall configuration with more than two movable wall elements arranged ata distance from each other for forming of protection zones.

Above a protection device comprising wall configuration with wallelements movably arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.According to an alternative variant the protection device comprises oneor more wall elements being turnably arranged for adaptation of needs ofthe configuration of a protection zone, said wall elements beingpivotable about one or more axles such that the wall element may beturned between different positions for reinforcing protection level onsides, roof and/or bottom of the vehicle.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated.

1. A protection device for a vehicle intended for military application, the protection device comprising: a wall configuration with ballistic protection properties arranged as a delimitation of a protection zone of the vehicle, said wall configuration being movably arranged in the vehicle for adaptation according to needs of a configuration of said protection zone.
 2. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said protection zone is configured to protect objects including an operator and/or passenger.
 3. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said wall configuration comprises at least one movable wall element.
 4. A protection device according to claim 3, wherein said wall element is arranged to run essentially transverse to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
 5. A protection device according to claim 3, wherein said wall configuration comprises protection material adapted to present protection level of said protection zone.
 6. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said wall configuration comprises removable additional protection elements.
 7. A protection device according to claim 6, wherein said additional protection elements comprise side, roof and/or bottom protection elements.
 8. A protection device according to claim 6, wherein said wall configuration comprises a wall elements and said additional protection elements for delimitation of a predetermined protection volume of the protection zone.
 9. A protection device according to claim 3, wherein said wall configuration comprises a movably arranged front and a rear wall element.
 10. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said wall configuration is modularly configured.
 11. A protection device according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing part for fixation of said wall configuration.
 12. A vehicle intended for military application comprising a protection device according to claim
 1. 